Simple Mornings
I remember the moment when coffee became an important part of my life. My parents were both coffee drinkers. There was always a large red can near the coffee pot or in the pantry and empty cans scattered around the garage and workshop filled with miscellaneous hardware, screws, nuts, and bolts. Coffee was something mom and dad drank. I never gave it much thought. Early one morning, when I was about 8 years
How to Steam Milk (With Gifs!)
Have you ever marveled at the work of art that a carefully crafted latte or cappuccino can be? It is rare that one receives a drink at the perfect sipping temperature with sweet bubble-less foam that gently glides down the back of your tongue. (We've been on gif kick lately and may have gone a little crazy in this post) I doubt there is a single person who drinks specialty coffee beverages on regular
How to Make Impressive Espresso
Anyone who has worked in coffee understands that teaching a new employee to finagle a palatable shot of espresso is about as difficult as trying to teach a toddler violin; anyone can press a button on an espresso machine and hope for the best (we can think of one corporation with a big green sign that fits this category), but only the rare committed individual can master the barista trade. Here at Silver Service, there
The Ride of the Bissell Tea Company
Here are two poems that correct the false history propagated in Longfellow's poem by acknowledging Israel Bissell as a hero of the Revolutionary War. Israel Bissell’s Ride by Gerard Chapman Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of Israel Bissell of yesteryear: A poet-less patriot whose fame, I fear, Was eclipsed by that of Paul Revere. He lacks the renown that accrued to Revere For no rhymester wrote ballad to blazon his fame; But Bissell accomplished—and isn’t it queer?— A feat that
The Strange Origins of the Tea Bag
The arrival of tea in Britain in the seventeenth century altered the drinking habits of this nation forever. The late eighteenth century saw black tea overtake green tea in popularity for the first time, which also accelerated the addition of milk. In the nineteenth century, widespread cultivation of tea in India began, leading to the imports of Indian tea into Britain overtaking the imports of Chinese tea. And in the twentieth century
Illy …. cups to collect — FTN-books
About 20 years ago Illy, the Italian coffee producing company started with their Illy collection. A prestigious collection of (espresso) cups, produced in limited editions in which they invited contemporary artists to paint and decorate their Matteo Thun designed illy cup. Since , over 100 editions have appeared in their series of art designed cups. […] via Illy …. cups to collect — FTN-books
Tip Your Barista, or Else.
The word TIP was initially an acronym for "To Insure Proper service." At a restaurant or service station you would give a tip to the employee beforehand so they would perform their service to the best of their ability. Eventually the transaction shifted from before meals and services to after, and the word has not carried quite the same weight since. Cafés are one of the few places where you still have
Coffee Questions and Conundrums
It has been a blast writing posts for all of you, I hope you've enjoyed them. Here at Silver Service, we are interested in what you are interested in, at least as far as coffee goes. What would you like to read about in the future? What questions related to coffee, tea, cafes, love, life, business, and coffee culture can we research and answer for you? Please humor us by commenting below! Also,
Will the “Third Wave” Coffee Shop Last? Part 3: The Final Verdict
Having looked at “The Good” and “The Questionable” aspects of the Third Wave movement, let’s try to piece together a projection of what the future of these shops looks like, and what it will take for the ones that already exist to enjoy further success.
Will the “Third Wave” Coffee Shop Last? Part 2: The Questionable
Few are willing to deny the positive values held dear by third wave café owners, yet from a perspective seasoned in business and attuned to the history of local food service, the third wave coffee shop very well may be temporary phenomena. Here are some facts that hinder this wave from carrying the societal clout it strives for.